Bangladeshi ex-President Iajuddin Ahmed passes away

He reportedly breathed his last at 10:40 a.m. local time at Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand.

Ahmed, who was born Feb. 1, 1931, had undergone an operation in October this year on his heart valve and since then he was on life support.

The eminent educationist was the 13th president of Bangladesh serving from Sept. 6, 2002 until Feb. 12, 2009.

Ahmed was sworn in as the chief adviser of the caretaker government on Oct. 2006 after Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government stepped down at the end of their term.

Ahmed later in Jan. 11, 2007 resigned from the post of chief adviser to the caretaker government, declaring a state of emergency in the country amid growing political crisis over the national elections which was later held on Dec. 29, 2008 under the caretaker government formed with Fakhruddin Ahmed.

Iajuddin Ahmed was also an adviser in the caretaker government in 1991.

As a Dhaka University professor, Ahmed was chairman of the Public Service Commission from 1991 to 1993 and chairman of the University Grants Commission from 1995 to 1999.

Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia in separate messages expressed profound shock at the death and conveyed sympathies to the bereaved family, said AKM Nesar Uddin Bhuiyan, press secretary of president, and Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel, press secretary of opposition leader.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also expressed deep shock at the death of the former president and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members, state-run news agency BSS reported.

Ahmed left behind his wife Professor Anwara Begum and three children-daughter Sujan Ahmad and two sons-Adam Ahmad and Imtiayz Ahmad-to mourn his death. (Xinhua-ANI)